The prophecy of Haggai, interpreted and applied in sundry sermonsThe prophesie of Haggai, interpreted and applyed in sundry sermons

as they were about their work a• one was a felling a tree, the axe head fell into the water, whereupon he cried out unto Elisha and said, alas Master it was but borrowed, the man of God therefore considering not only that the instrument was borrowed but also how necessary it was for their purpose, cutting down a piece of wood and casting it into the water caused the Iron to swim; We have my brethren amongst us our laws as it were instruments wherewith to fell our timber: a great part of them is fallen into the water ⟨p. 60⟩Indeed they be in the Proctors book but there they be as if they were fallen into the water. The Children of the Prophets have complained unto Elisha alas Master they were but borrowed, and great need have they to know them, for that they are bound in conscience by oath to keep them. To which purpose some have taken pains to restore them; notwithstanding it hath yet pleased God to move them that should see it accomplished, howbeit we may hope to see it when it shall please God to place in that room a man that hath Elisha spirit: sure, there is great use of them for the cutting and framing of the Cedars wherewith to build, especially if those which be known already were kept, which I must needs also add, because that of those which are known many have their edges rebated by dispensations. A lamentable thing that we keep yet so much that which was received from the sink of Rome, which I speak not as though our dispensations were so detestable as his who taketh upon him to dispense against the commandment of the Apostle however it please him, to distinguish of the precepts of the Apostle which he commandeth not God; but in a place and matter where laws and orders are taken to the contrary, it is no way tolerable. Pluto and Aristotle the Princes of the Philosophers have affirmed, that it is most pernicious in a common-wealth to break the laws which are once appointed, which we learn even out of them, if we read them to make our profit of them, and not only to talk of them: which neither yet do I speak as though I would have nothing dispensable, but that when it is so ordered that there shall not in such cases be any dispensations absolutely, yet that we should continually come against this decree.

as they were about their worke a• one was a felling a tree, the axe head fell into the water, whereupon he cryed out unto Elizeus and said, alas Master it was but borrowed, the man of God therfore considering not only that the instrument was borrowed but also how necessary it was for their purpose, cutting downe a piece of wood and casting it into the water caused the Iron to swimme; We have my brethren amongst us our lawes as it were instruments wherewith to fell our timber: a great part of them is fallen into the water